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Post by hawkeyes on Mar 10, 2020 11:59:57 GMT -7
Was able to have a little forge time yesterday to which I was able to produce a little blade forged in coal from 1095 HSC. Took the blade shape and advice from Larry Callahan after a long discussion on the phone. Simple blade, heat treated and tempered, secured to the tine with one iron pin and cutler resin. After some stone time she took a very mean edge.  |
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Post by brokennock on Mar 10, 2020 12:53:05 GMT -7
Is the odd shape in the spine at the tip intentional? Thusly does it have a purpose?
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Post by hawkeyes on Mar 10, 2020 13:51:04 GMT -7
Is the odd shape in the spine at the tip intentional? Thusly does it have a purpose? Strictly cosmetic in this situation. While it does somewhat emulate say a clip point I personally have never came across any evidence of an 18th century blade having a clipped point. Should have mentioned what happened earlier as I rushed the post. That section developed a hairline crack on the spine after hardening. Being a thin blade, especially towards the tip I somewhat anticipated that happening. Fortunately the section was the only fault in the blade, so it was removed. I don't like operating on "theoretically" but indeed that could have theoretically been a plausible scenario one would have ran into during the period. A fault I can live with on a otherwise usable blade. |
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New Blade
Mar 10, 2020 14:13:33 GMT -7
via mobile
Post by brokennock on Mar 10, 2020 14:13:33 GMT -7
So basically the spine had traveled uniformly to the existing tip but some material was removed to cut out a fault.
Makes sense.
However, you need a more interesting story for when others ask. Something about twisting it inside an enemy and being able to hook organs better, lol.
What are the dimensions?
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Post by hawkeyes on Mar 10, 2020 14:27:57 GMT -7
So basically the spine had traveled uniformly to the existing tip but some material was removed to cut out a fault. Makes sense. However, you need a more interesting story for when others ask. Something about twisting it inside an enemy and being able to hook organs better, lol. What are the dimensions? Yes sir, what I believe to have happened was due in part to a fault of my own. I likely had worked that area to cold, which obviously can lead to stress fractures when quenching. I've done it before on thin blades and while a big irritation it's a situation that can be fixed if you can live with the imperfection. While I'll likely forgo that storyline... lol, I've ran across MANY who would probably believe that to be true. Blade length, tang excluded is about 6". |
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Post by artificer on Mar 10, 2020 23:00:25 GMT -7
Strictly cosmetic in this situation. While it does somewhat emulate say a clip point I personally have never came across any evidence of an 18th century blade having a clipped point. Actually both straight and curved clip points were common on the 18th/19th centuries traditional Spanish folding-blade fighting and utility knife called the Navaja. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NavajaThese were used in Spanish Florida and Louisiana in large numbers by common Spanish people in the 17th and 18th centuries and were also traded to Native Americans up the Mississippi River. It has been suggested the clip points on "Bowie" knives harkened back to the Navaja, though of course there is no definite documentation of that. Keith shows other Spanish clip points knives in his Woodsrunner Diary here: woodsrunnersdiary.blogspot.com/2013/02/more-on-clasp-knives.htmlGus |
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Post by hawkeyes on Mar 11, 2020 2:37:01 GMT -7
Thank you Gus for the info. Seems though the traditional curved clip point associated with the bowie just wasn't a common profile in the colonies. I've recreated several friction folders and actually carry one daily. The simple Opinel makes a great candidate for modification.   |
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Keith
City-dweller
Bushfire close but safe now. Getting some good rain.
Posts: 990 
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Post by Keith on Mar 11, 2020 14:32:11 GMT -7
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Post by hawkeyes on Mar 11, 2020 16:09:32 GMT -7
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New Blade
Apr 11, 2020 9:05:55 GMT -7
via mobile
Post by colmoultrie on Apr 11, 2020 9:05:55 GMT -7
Thank you Gus for the info. Seems though the traditional curved clip point associated with the bowie just wasn't a common profile in the colonies. I've recreated several friction folders and actually carry one daily. The simple Opinel makes a great candidate for modification. Great idea and nicely executed! |
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